Marcos thanks DFA, embassies for ensuring safe passage of 40 Pinoys from Gaza

President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. on Wednesday expressed gratitude to the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) and other Philippine authorities involved in the safe exit of 40 Filipinos from Gaza to Egypt via Rafah Crossing.

In a video message, Marcos guaranteed that the Filipinos would be repatriated in the next few days amid Israel's war with the militant group Hamas.

“Ikinagagalak kong ibalita na 40 sa ating mga kababayan ay ligtas at matagumpay na nakatawid ng Rafah crossing sa Egypt. Sila ngayon ay patungo sa Cairo, kung saan sila magmumula para makauwi nang tuluyan sa ating bansa sa susunod na mga araw,” Marcos said.

(I am glad that 40 fellow Filipinos are safe after successfully passing through the Rafah Crossing towards Egypt. They are now en route to Cairo where they are expected to be repatriated in the coming days.)

“Nagpapasalamat din tayo sa mga pamahalaan ng Israel at Egypt sa kanilang pagbibigay-prayoridad sa ating mga kababayan upang makalabas ng kanilang teritoryo. Kinikilala din natin ang mediation effort ng Qatar na siyang naging dahilan upang magbukas muli ang mga borders ng mga naturang bansa,” he added.

(We thank the governments of Israel and Egypt for giving priority to our fellow Filipinos to leave their territory. We also acknowledged the mediation efforts of Qatar which became the tool so that the borders will be opened.)

He also ensured that the remaining Filipinos who are still waiting for the signal to pass through the Rafah Crossing would soon be able to.

The Filipinos were already on their way to Cairo accompanied by Philippine Embassy officials led by Ambassador Ezzedin H. Tago, Unang Balita reported on Wednesday morning.

They made a stopover in el-Arish in Egypt, around 30 kilometers away from the Gaza border, to eat. The Filipinos, who came from six families, were aboard two buses.

The Philippines raised Alert Level 4 in Gaza City in mid-October, meaning evacuation for Filipinos became mandatory. —Anna Felicia Bajo/KBK, GMA Integrated News